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Hostage probe committee to inspect ill-fated Hong Thai Travel bus
The Incident Investigation and Review Commitee will head to Camp Bagong Diwa -- the National Capital Region Police Office's headquarters in Taguig City -- on Wednesday afternoon to inspect the ill-fated Hong Thai Travel tour bus hijacked by dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza last August 23. A reenactment of the crucial points of the hostage tragedy, where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed, is expected to be conducted as well. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima chairs the IIRC. The other members include Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, the panel’s vice-chairman; Teresita Ang-See, who represents the Filipino-Chinese community; Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ Roan Libarios; and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas’ Herman Basbano. Prior to the inspection and reenactment, the inter-agency panel will resume its proceedings at the Department of Justice office in Manila. The National Bureau of Investigation and journalist Susan Enriquez are expected to face clarificatory questioning by the committee. Enriquez was able to interview Mendoza's brother, SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, while he was being arrested by Manila policemen in the evening of August 23. The arrest was said to have triggered Mendoza's shooting rampage against his victims. (See: Bus driver: Hostage taker blew top upon seeing brother's arrest) Enriquez was supposed to face the panel last Tuesday, but the questioning had to be moved to Wednesday because the committee went to the Quirino Grandstand to inspect the exact site of the bloodbath and the police community precinct where the brother was arrested. (See: Probers visit site of hostage tragedy, check out brother's story) SWAT team's timeline mix-up Also on Tuesday, the IIRC went to the Manila Police District headquarters for a surprise visit. De Lima checked the district tactical operations office, as well as the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) office. It was revealed that the SWAT's Dragon Base recorded that it received a report of the hostage-taking at 9:07 a.m. on August 23 and that a SWAT team had been deployed at the grandstand at 9:15 a.m. However, the testimony of bus driver Alberto Lubang said Mendoza hijacked the bus at about 9:45 a.m. This was corroborated by the testimony of Lourdes Amansec, an official of the travel agency handling the Hong Kong tourists, and by the affidavit of survivor Diana Chan, a tour guide. De Lima had expressed concern about the seeming mix-up in the timeline of events in the hostage tragedy. (See De Lima questions timeline mix-up in hostage tragedy)
